Vehicle detecting device



Dec. 11, 1951 COOPER ET AL 2,578,046

VEHICLE DETECTING DEVICE Filed July 21, 1950 INVENTORS.

STANLEY A. KROLL BENJAMIN COOPER A TTORNE Y Patented Dec. 11, 1951 VEHICLE DETECTING DEVICE Benjamin Cooper, New York, and Stanley A. Kroll, Brooklyn, N. Y.; said Kroll assignor to said Cooper Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,133

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vehicle detecting devices and is particularly directed to a treadle actuated system for detecting the presence of a vehicle in a berth or dock.

In applicants co-pending patent application filed July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,134, titled: Vehicle Assigning, Detecting and Dispatching Sys tems, there is described and claimed a system for assigning, detecting and dispatching busses at a multi-berth bus terminal. Though the present invention is especially adaptable for use in detecting the presence of a vehicle in vehicle berths equipped with said dispatching systems, other uses will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art; for instance, another use could be to automatically open a garage door upon vehicle passage over the treadle in the direction of entrance into the garage, and to subsequently close the door upon the vehicle leaving the garage and transversing said treadle in the opposite direction.

It is one object of this invention to provide a treadle actuated vehicle detecting system of the character described that is responsive to the rolling action of vehicle wheels passing over the treadle and at the same time is not responsive to the actions of pedestrians in walking or jumping on the treadle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system of the character described that becomes actuated upon the passage of one wheel, or pairs of wheels, or the first of any number of wheels, or pairs of wheels, over the treadle in one direction, and subsequently becomes deactuated upon the passage of one wheel, or pairs of wheels, or the first one of any number of wheels, or pairs of wheels, over the treadle in the opposite direction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system of the character described that will not remain actuated if a vehicle wheels, after mounting the treadle, rolls back and forth while on the treadle, subsequently backing oil the treadle.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part herein below pointed out.

The invention, accordingly, consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein below described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of the various possible embodiments of this invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit, and Figurez is a partial perspective 8-- drawing illustrating the typical location of treadles in berths of a multi-berth vehicle terminal.

Referring now to Figure 1, 10 represents a treadle comprising an elongated flexible casing ii in which are fixed a first pair of switch contact strips I2 and 12a, and a second pair of switch contact strips 13 and l3a, longitudinally disposed in said casing and spaced apart, one pair from the other, about three inches. Said treadle is adapted to be placed in a road-bed, transversally of the direction of vehicle passage, so as to be actuated by the passing of wheels over the treadle.

Upon the pasage of a vehicle over the treadle in the direction indicated by the arrow, the switch 22, 12a will first be closed by the pressure of the vehicle rolling on the treadle; then, as the wheels advance, the switches [2, I211 and 13, l3d will be closed concurrently; then, as the wheels continue to advance the switch 12', I212 opens whiie switch l3, l3a remains closed; and finally as the axle passes over the treadle, the switch i3, i3a will open. The opposite sequence of switch operation takes place, of course, upon the wheels of a vehicle moving over the treadle in the opposite direction. Such a treadle as above described is illustrated and described in detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,251,351, issued August 5, 1941, titled: Treadle Process.

Included in the electrical circuit are auxiliary relays it, Hi, It and i7, and control relay [8. Each of said relays is furnished, respectively, with energizing coils I9, 20, 2|, 22 and 23, each of which has one terminal connected to the negative terminal of a direct current source.

Relay M has associated with it a movable contact arm i lb, normally in contact with fixed contact arm Ma, but adapted to be moved from contact therewith and into contact with contact arm ia'c upon the energization of said relay. Relay [5 has associated with it a movable contact arm Lib, normally in contact with fixed contact arm lEa, but adapted to be moved from contact therewith and into contact with contact arm itc upon the energization of said relay.

Relay it is provided with a normally closed switch Mia, 56b, adapted to be opened when said relay is energized.

Relay I! is provided with a normally open switch Ha, l'lb, adapted to be closed when said relay is energized.

Relay 3 is provided with two pairs of switches, [8a, 18b, and E80, l8d, each normally open but adapted to be closed when said relay is energized.

'The switch contact strip 52a and ia are each relay I is connected as by wire 2i to the remalning of energizing coil I9 associated with relay i l.

Fixed contact arm I is connected as by wire 28 to the remaining terminal of energizing coil 2| associated with relay I5. Fixed contact arm I is connected as by wire 29 to the remaining terminal of energizing coil 22 associated with relay I1.

Fixed contact arm IEa associated with relay I6, movable contact arm l'ia associated with relay I1, and fixed contact arm I8d associated with relay I8 are each connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source.

Movable contact arm ifib is connected as by wire 30 to movable contact arm Illa associated with relay I8. Fixed contact arm lib is connected as by wire 3| to the remaining terminal of energizing coil 23 associated with relay I8, and also, as by wires 3| and 32, to fixed contact arm itb associated with said relay.

Movable contact arm 18c associated with relay I3 is connected as by wire 33 to one energizing terminal of indicator lamp 34, the other energizing terminal of said lamp being connected to the negative terminal of the direct current source.

Referring to Figure 2 it is seen how the treadle I0 is placed in the floor of the vehicle berth 35 so as to be traversed by the front wheels at least when a vehicle enters the berth in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Considering now the operation of the system, assume that a vehicle is entering the berth and passing over the treadle. .The treadle switch I2, 12a Will just be closed, completing a circuit to energize relay I5, said circuit being from direct I3, 13a, wire 25, now closed switch I52), E50,

.wire 29, through energizing coil 22 to direct current minus. The energization of relay i? will in turn effect the completion of a circuit to energize control relay I8, said circuit being from direct current plus, through now closed switch IIa, I'lb, wire 3|, through energization coil 23 associated with relay I8 to direct current minus. The energization of relay I8 will cause the completion of a secondary energizing circuit for itself, said circuit being from direct current plus, through normally closed switch Iea, itb, wire 30, now closed switch I811, I812, wires 32, and 3i, through energizing coil 23 of said relay.

The actuation of relay I8 closes switch lilo, I8d, completing an energizing circuit to lamp 3% to indicate the passage of a vehicle wheel over the treadle.

As the wheel continues to move over the treadle, the switch I2, I21; opens next, opening the above detailed energization circuit to relay I5. The energization of control relay IE will not be interrupted, however, because of the above detailed secondary energization circuit which remains clcsed-clrcuited. It should be noted here that although upon the de-energization or relay I5, relay It becomes energized, the circuit being from direct current plus, through now closed switch I3, Illa, wire 25, normally closed switch 25a, i522, wire 27, through energization coil if) of relay It to direct current minus, relay it remains de-energized, since treadle switch I2, i2a, in its energization circuit is now open.

As the wheels roll off the treadle, opening switch I3, Ilia, the above detailed energization circuit to relay it is opened, de-energlzing it. Relay I8 will remain energized, however, its secondary energization circuit remaining uninterrupted.

Assume now that a second pair of wheels pass over the treadle upon a vehicle entering the berth. This might happen, for instance, in the case of a very short car being docked ina berth designed primarily for large vehicles. As detailed above, relay 55 will first become energized upon the closure of treadle switch I2, I2a. Upon the concurrent closure of switches I2, i211 and 53, I311, relay I? will become energized, as above. However, since control relay I8 is already energized through its secondary energization circuit, the energization of relay IT has no effect. As the wheels continue over the treadle circuit operation will be the same as detailed above for the passage of the first pair of wheels.

Consider now the operation of the system when a vehicle backs out of the berth. Treadle switch I3, I3a will firstbe closed, completing a circuit to energize relay I4, said circuit being from direct current plus, through closed switch I3, ltd, wire 25, normally closed switch I511, I512, wire 27, through energizing coil I9 associated with relay I4 to direct current minus. Upon the subsequent closure of the treadle switch I2, I2a as the wheels move backwards across the treadle a circuit is completed to energize relay It, said circuit being from direct current plus, through closed treadle switch I2, I2a, wire 23, now closed switch I41), I40, wire 28, through energizing coil" 2I associated with relay I6 to direct current minus. The energization of relay I6 will be in cator lamp 34'. and thereby signalling that a ve-- hicle is leaving the berth. V v 7 As the wheels continue to move over the treadle the switch I3, lBa will next open, open-circuiting to above detailed energization circuit to relay I4.

At the same time relay i5 will become energized through the circuit from direct current plus, through closed switch I2, I2a, wire 24, normally open switch Ida, Mb, wire 26, through energization coil 29 associated with relay 55 to direct trol relay I8, since no circuit will be completed to'relay ll as is necessary to initially energize control relay l8; It will thus be evident that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the various conditions of practical use.

Having thus described our-invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l, In combination with a treadle, comprising a'set of two switches adapted to be closed in sequential order by the wheels of a vehicle roll-- ing thereover, an electrically operated indicator means, a circuit connecting said switches with said indicator means, including means, operable upon actuation and tie-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said indicator means and retain the same in energized condition, and means operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to de-energize said energizedindicator means' 2. In combination with a treadle, comprising a set of two switches adapted to be closed in sequential order by the wheels of a vehicle rolling thereover, an electrically operated indicator means, a circuit connecting said switches with said indicator means, including means, operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said indicator means and retain the same in energized condition, and means operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to de-energize said energized indicator means, said circuit further including means to retain said energized indicator means in energized condition upon actuating said switches in the first direction subsequent to the first actuation of said switches in said first direction and before actuating said switches in said opposite direction.

3. In combination with a treadle, comprising a set of two switches adapted to be closed in sequential order by the wheels of a vehicle rolling rection, to de-energize said energized indicator means, and means to retain said indicator means in de-energized condition upon actuation of said switches in the opposite direction at any time while said indicator means is in de-energized condition.

4. In combination with a treadle, comprising a set of two switches adapted to be closed in sequential order by the wheels of a vehicle rolling thereover, an electrically operated indicator means, a circuit connecting said switches with said indicator means, including means, operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said indicator means and retain the same in energized condition, and means operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to de-energize said energized indicator means, said circuit further including means to ,retain said energized indicator means in ener- 6 gized condition upon actuating said switches in the first direction subsequent to the first actuation of said switches in said first direction and before actuating said switches in said opposite direction, and means to retain said indicator means in de-energized condition upon actuation of said switches in the opposite direction at any time while said indicator means is in deenergized condition.

5. In combination with a treadle, comprising a set of two switches adapted to be closed in se quential order by the wheels of a vehicle rolling thereover, an electrically operated indicator means, a circuit connecting said switches with said indicator means, including means, operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said indicator means and retain the same in energized condition, and means operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to de-energize said energized indicator means, said switches being parallel and spaced apart not more than three inches.

6. A treadle comprising first and second treadle switches over which the wheels of a vehicle may roll, a first treadle switch relay, means to energize said first treadle switch relay upon closing the first treadle switch, an auxiliary control relay, means to energize the auxiliary control relay upon closing the second treadle switch while the first treadle switch remains closed, a control relay, means to energize the control relay upon the energization of the auxiliary control relay, an electrical indicator, means to energiz said indicator upon the energization of said control relay, a holding circuit for holding the control relay in energized condition, operated by the energization of said control relay, upon opening the first treadle switch after said control relay is energized, thereby de-energizing the first treadle switch relay and also the auxiliary control relay, and means to retain the control relay and hence the indicator in energized condition upon subsequently opening the second treadle switch.

'7. A treadle comprising first and second treadle switches over which the wheels of a vehicle may roll, a first treadle switch relay, means to energize said first treadle switch relay upon closing the first treadle switch, an auxiliary control relay, means to energize the auxiliary control relay upon closing the second treadle switch while the first treadle switch remains closed, a control relay, means to energize the control relay upon the energization of the auxiliary control relay, an electrical indicator, means to energize said indicator upon the energization of said control relay, a holding circuit for holding the control relay in energized condition, operated by the energization of said control relay, upon opening the first treadle switch after said control relay is energized, thereby de-energizing the first treadle switch relay and also the auxiliary control relay, means to retain the control relay and hence the indicator in energized condition upon subsequently opening the second tread-1e switch, a second treadle switch relay, means to energize said second treadle switch relay upon subsequently closing the second treadle switch, a holding relay, means to energize the holding relay upon subsequently closing the first treadle switch while the second treadle switch is closed, said holding relay, when energized, being adapted to open the holding circuit for the control relay to de-energize the second treadle switch relay upon sub- I the first treadle switch remains closed.

sequently opening the second treadleswitch while 8-. In combination with a treadle, comprisinga set of two switches adapted to be closed insequential order by the wheels of a vehicle rollin thereover, an electrically operated device, a -circuit connecting said switches with saiddevice, including means, operableupon actuation and deactuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said device and retain the same in energized conditiomand means operable upon actuation and de-actu ation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to tie-energize said ener gized device. I a V :9. In combination with a treadle, comprising'a set of two switches adapted to be closedinsezquential order by the wheels of a vehicle rolling thereover, an electrically operated device, a circuit connecting said switches with said device, in- 20 cludingmeans, operable upon actuation and deactuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in one direction, to energize said device and retain the same in energized condition, and n eans operable upon actuation and de-actuation of said switches sequentially and concurrently in the opposite direction, to de-energize said ener-1 gized device, said circuit further including means to retain said energized device in energized condition upon actuating said switches in the first direction subsequent to the first actuation of said'switches in said first direction and before actuating said switches in said opposite direction.

BENJAMIN COOPER. STANLEY A. KROLL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,065,048 Burnside Dec. 22, 1936 2,077,924 Geer et al Apr. 20, 1937 

